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U.S. And Chinese Officials Reach "Framework" Of A Trade Deal; Hurricane Melissa Intensifies To Major Category 4 Storm; Two Suspects Arrested In Louvre Museum Jewelry Heist; Interview With Minister of Justice Of The Jamaican Prime Minister Abka Fitz-Henley; Newly Released Photos Of Nine-Year-Old Missing California Girl. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired October 26, 2025 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[14:00:40]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Right now in the NEWSROOM.

Bracing for impact. Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensifying with the potential of growing into a massive category five storm.

Plus --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE: While I have fundamental disagreements with President Trump on a wide variety of issues, if he wants to get on the phone to talk about anything that would be to the benefit of New Yorkers, I will always pick up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A CNN exclusive with the New York mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, in the final stretch of the city's mayoral race.

And --

It was the heist seen around the world. Priceless jewels snatched in broad daylight from the Louvre. Now, two of those suspects are behind bars. We have details on the dramatic arrests.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

And we begin this hour with a possible breakthrough on U.S. trade relations with China. Today, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. has reached a substantial framework of a trade deal with China, which would avoid the U.S. imposing an additional 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports.

The development comes as President Trump is in the midst of a five-day high stakes diplomatic trip to Asia aimed at easing trade tensions with Beijing. Bessent says the framework agreement sets the stage for Trump's meeting on Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

CNN's Julia Benbrook is joining us right now with more on all this. Julia, what more can you tell us about this possible trade deal?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, officials from the United States and from China met over the weekend to talk trade and to set the stage for that upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping.

Now, following two days of negotiations, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent struck a positive tone. He said that he believes that this was a good meeting and that the two teams had come together on a substantial framework.

He also added that while he doesn't want to get ahead of the two leaders in that highly-anticipated sit-down that he believes the threat of the new additional 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports has gone away. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: I think we've reached a substantial framework for the two leaders who will meet in Korea next Thursday. So, you know, on the -- on the table, the president had given me maximum leverage when he threatened 100 percent tariffs if the Chinese imposed their rare earth global export controls.

So I think we have averted that. So the tariffs will be averted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: And there has been a lot of back and forth prior to these meetings. When Beijing signaled that it would ramp up export restrictions on critical rare earth minerals, Trump responded by threatening sky-high tariffs up to 157 percent.

China said that it would enact countermeasures unless he backs away from that.

All of that escalation threatening to derail months of negotiations. At one point, Trump said that this meeting might not even happen.

But he has had a much more optimistic tone in recent days, saying he believes it will be a good meeting, maybe even a great meeting.

While speaking with reporters on Air Force One, Trump said that he does believe that China will have to make some concessions here, but suggested that he is open to doing that as well.

Now, this diplomatic trip to Asia, it's all leading up to that expected sit-down. But he has several other important stops along the way. He's in Malaysia now. He'll be traveling to Japan. And then it all concludes in South Korea, where we expect that meeting to take place. WHITFIELD: All right. Julia Benbrook, thanks so much.

All right. We're also following breaking developments as Hurricane Melissa charges its way toward Jamaica. The category four storm is undergoing extreme rapid intensification and could strengthen to a rare category five as early as tonight. The National Hurricane Center is warning residents to seek shelter now.

[14:04:47]

WHITFIELD: The slow-moving system could pummel the island with up to 40 inches of rain, ferocious winds, landslides and up to 13 feet of storm surge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what the weatherman predicted where we never get this in the Caribbean.

This may be the worst one. I watch that it's hurricane season the finish. So we're frightened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A hurricane warning is now in effect for parts of Haiti and all of Jamaica, where preparations are underway for what could be the strongest hurricane to ever hit the island with landfall expected as early as tomorrow night.

Meteorologist Derek Van Dam is joining us now from Kingston, Jamaica where the skies look ominous. But what are the conditions that are being felt around the whole island right now?

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Well, it's calm right now, Fredricka, but we just had this. 2 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. Still as dire wording as they've been talking about for the past several days.

We are facing potentially the strongest hurricane to ever strike this island nation in modern record keeping.

It is the slow-moving nature of this hurricane that concerns me so much. Let's talk about that on the graphics and show you what is a classic satellite representation of a very powerful, high-end category four hurricane.

Look at that pinhole eye. That gives you an idea that it really underwent this extreme, rapid intensification, 70 mile per hour increase in winds in 24 hours.

National Hurricane Center has an explicit category five hurricane strengthening here within the coming hours. And again, the slow duration of the storm and the combination of the mountains that you see directly behind me are going to produce life-threatening and potentially catastrophic rainfall totals in excess of 30 to 40 inches of rain that, according to the National Hurricane Center, could isolate communities for days.

Look at that rainfall total. This is no joke. That shade of white is nearly off of our legend. We're talking about the potential for multiple feet of rain. And that is going to test the modern infrastructure here in Jamaica.

I talked to the deputy director of the National Hurricane Center just moments ago, and he set it up perfectly, talking about the threats that we face here in Jamaica. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMIE RHOME, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: You've seen the rainfall projections of upwards of three feet of rain. Three feet, you know, over 30 inches of rain. You have to talk about it in feet. It's so much.

It hits that mountainside and, you know, it's got to come down instantaneously. And it creates an instant flash flood. But when it comes down, it doesn't -- it comes down with mud and debris and rocks. And that's what causes these landslides.

And then all that water tries to go into the ocean. It's going to try to go into the ocean, and the storm surge is going to stop it. Like the storm surge pushing up against this southern coastline is going to stop all that water from trying to flow into the ocean.

And that collision, that collision is going to create this flooding potential that we've been trying desperately to talk about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN DAM: Fredricka, it's the full gambit of hazards here in Jamaica. Kingston, population a million. The entire island houses about 3 million people.

This is the most densely-populated part of the island and very, very susceptible to this flooding.

We're talking about sustained. We're talking days of hurricane force winds, prolonged heavy rainfall, storm surge through multiple high tide cycles, all of that coming together. That's going to test the infrastructure here.

We drove around Kingston yesterday. We saw some businesses boarded up, particularly the gas stations, for instance. Some sandbags that have been placed out at homes and businesses as well.

But for the most part, largely people walking around business as usual, as if there is no major hurricane knocking on their doorstep.

By the way, it's only 100 miles directly to our south. That's the Caribbean Ocean behind me. And Melissa is gearing up to strike this region, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Yes, it's coming soon. But of course, you know, contrast that too, there aren't a whole lot of places to go, you know, on this island, a relatively large one, but then small when you talk about the kind of expanse of this storm, the way in which it will sit.

Go ahead, Derek.

VAN DAM: You make a really valid point because over my left-hand shoulder is the Kingston International Airport. We can see it in the distance. The aviation tower is visible from the balcony where we are.

There is only one access road that is highly susceptible to storm surge that Jamie Rhome was talking about a moment ago. And if that's washed out, we're stuck here. The residents of Jamaica are stuck here. Very difficult to get off of this island once the storm moves through.

[14:09:48]

WHITFIELD: Right. Very stuck right where you are.

All right. Derek Van Dam, thank you so much. We're going to check back with you throughout the day, and of course, the evening as the storm encroaches even closer.

Thank you.

All right. Also new today, the arrests of two men in connection with the Louvre jewelry heist. Police telling us that they nabbed one of the suspects at the Charles De Gaulle Airport outside Paris last night as he was trying to flee to Algeria.

At the heart of this case, the brazen theft last week of more than $100 million worth of historic jewels from the iconic Louvre Museum.

CNN's Melissa Bell is joining us now from Paris. Melissa, it took a week and an intense manhunt to lead to these arrests. I mean, it's quite extraordinary because wasn't there a feeling that it would be difficult or maybe even nearly impossible to find any suspects anytime soon?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And the fact that it lasts so long, we'd started to wonder, Fredricka, whether anyone would ever be caught.

This is the police unit in charge, the BRB in France. They're known to have this very successful track record. They were the ones involved, by the way, in finding the robbers who were behind the Kim Kardashian jewel theft back in 2016 here in Paris.

What they have been doing and 100 people have been working on this case over the course of the last week, is looking at traces of DNA that were left behind, 150 different traces of DNA, we understand, from the Paris prosecutor.

They've been looking at phone records. They've been looking at CCTV footage because there are cameras all over the city, as there are in most. Now, two people arrested on Saturday night, we understand from the

Paris prosecutor. One, as you say, who was actually trying to leave from Charles De Gaulle Airport on his way, we understand from French press reports, to Algeria.

And from those same reports, we're learning, Fredricka, that the two men are in their 30s and very little has been given away so far beyond that.

They expect more arrests. For the time being, though, no sense of where the jewels might be. But certainly a big break in this case that two people have been taken into custody.

And we understand, again from French media, that they are believed to be two people who are actually amongst the four that were involved in the theft itself on Sunday morning.

So you'll remember that there had been four people that had been looking -- that they'd been looking for afterwards that had been on the scene. These two men, apparently, are two of those, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And then Melissa, have investigators said anything about, you know, the cache of jewels? I mean, while they have the suspects, are they revealing anything about whether there was any material, you know, any of these stolen jewels on them?

BELL: For now, as we understand it, they haven't got their hands yet on the jewels. Remember that this was more than $100 million worth of jewels, the tiaras, the necklaces, the earrings worn by the 19th century queens of France.

And of course, French authorities have been under huge pressure to make advances in this case. For now, as we understand it, and they're remaining fairly tightlipped, because this investigation continues. as I say, there will be more arrests coming, they say.

But for now, the jewels, we don't believe that they have any sense of where they are. But certainly the fact that they've caught a couple of people is going to help them in their investigation in what the French press has really been calling for the last week, the heist of the century.

So good news here from France. At least two people in custody, and they're making progress.

WHITFIELD: All right. Melissa Bell, keep us posted. Thanks so much.

All right. Ahead this hour, a quiet Sunday on Capitol Hill as lawmakers remain at odds over how to reopen the U.S. government.

Nervous American families face an uncertain future on everything from food security to health care.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will join us live.

Plus, the desperate search for a missing 9-year-old girl in California. And authorities now say her mother has been uncooperative.

[14:13:38]

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WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back.

The National Hurricane Center just issued an updated advisory warning that Hurricane Melissa could bring life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding, which could isolate communities in Jamaica for days.

Conditions are deteriorating before the category four storm makes landfall, which is expected as early as tomorrow night.

The U.S. State Department is now urging U.S. citizens to get out of the storm's path, while departures are still available.

I'm joined now by Abka Fitz-Henley, minister of state with the office of the Jamaican prime minister.

So good to see you.

So how are you getting residents prepared and informed about what may lie ahead?

ABKA FITZ-HENLEY, MINISTER OF STATE, OFFICE OF THE JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much. Hello to you and to the viewers of CNN.

The government of Jamaica has activated all the disaster mechanisms in order to alert the population about impending danger which Melissa poses.

We are also organizing evacuation of residents from low lying areas in order to preserve their lives. That's the priority of the government of Jamaica, preserving as many lives as possible as this hurricane is bearing down on Jamaica.

The latest update, it's approximately 100 miles south of Kingston. We're taking it very seriously.

[14:19:51]

FITZ-HENLEY: And we have activated all the communication mechanisms, including traditional mass media and social media, advising people in Jamaica of the impending danger.

And we hope for compliance. In fact, I'd say we are getting compliance to date.

WHITFIELD: And so talk to me about the evacuation centers. Where are they? Because when we hear from the National Hurricane Center, they are very concerned that this storm is going to, I'm quoting now, "test modern infrastructure".

And if you're talking about 30 to 40 inches of rain that is just going to sit on this island and a lot of the -- a lot of the areas are going to simply be inundated with a lot of water. Flash flooding is predicted.

So where are these evacuation areas. And can you describe the safety or the location of many of them?

FITZ-HENLEY: Well, in the United States you have states. In Jamaica you have parishes. We have 14 parishes and there are hundreds of shelters across the various parishes. Indeed, across the island, which are made available to people who are living in low lying areas.

There are people who might feel unsafe in their environment and wish to evacuate. Those shelters have been opened. They're fully operational and staffed with personnel to assist the needs of those who move in, and also living arrangements for as long as possible.

Given the forecast that this hurricane could basically sit over Jamaica for a couple of days, a few days, the shelters have been properly equipped to accommodate as many people as possible in light of what has been forecast.

We're really hoping for the best in Jamaica, but led by our prime minister doctor (ph), the most honorable Andrew Holness. I'd say we are as prepared as we can be for this impending (INAUDIBLE) disaster.

We're hopeful for the best, but we have put in place the various mechanisms across Jamaica, including the shelters and the emergency services.

We have convened meetings with them and they are fully activated to respond and to pursue rescue and recovery efforts when it is safe to do so.

So essentially, in Kingston, it's a bit of calm here, perhaps the calm before the storm. The eastern side of the island, parishes including Portland (ph) and Saint Thomas. They have begun to see some showers today, but not heavy winds as yet.

The projection, the forecast is that could begin as soon as tonight into Monday morning. But the real hurricane winds are expected on Monday evening into Tuesday.

So again, here in Jamaica, we are prepared, hoping for the best and we'll see what happens.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Well, all the best to you and everyone there on the island. Minister Abka Fitz-Henley appreciate it. All the best.

FITZ-HENZLEY: Thank you. All the best to you, too.

WHITFIELD: Thank you.

All right. Straight ahead, the growing mystery surrounding the search for a young girl who allegedly disappeared during a trip with her mother.

[14:23:00]

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WHITFIELD: All right.

Now to newly released photos of the 9-year-old California girl who has not been seen in several weeks. Take a look at these images. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's detectives say they were taken just before Melodee Buzzard went on a cross-country road trip with her mother, Ashley, earlier this month. They say Ashley returned, the mother. But Melodee, the daughter, did not.

Authorities say the mother is not cooperating with investigators. Family members and neighbors are concerned about why Melodee has not been seen in days gathered outside her California home, demanding a response from her mother.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: We want answers. We want answers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Now the FBI has joined California authorities in the search for Melodee.

CNN's Julia Vargas Jones is in Los Angeles following this story for us. So Julia, tell us more about what remains a mystery.

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it does remain a mystery. But Fred, now investigators have pinpointed that this critical window in Melodee buzzard's disappearance, they're saying that these images may help explain what happened on that trip with her mother. And it has narrowed down the timeline of her disappearance.

Investigators say that they found evidence that she was with her mother as recently as October 7th. That's when these surveillance photos were taken, showing Melodee at a car rental business in Lompoc, about an hour northwest of Santa Barbara.

In these images, she's wearing this hoodie sweatshirt and what appears to be a wig with darker and straighter hair than her natural hair.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office, her mother rented a car that day and drove from California to Nebraska, with a stop in Kansas along the way. And then she returns to Lompoc on October 10th without her daughter.

Then four days later, after school administrator reported that Melodee hadn't been in class for months, sheriff's deputies then began their investigation and tried to contact Melodee and Ashley at their home.

Melodee wasn't there. And there was no clear explanation given, Fred, for her whereabouts.

That's when investigators say that the mother stopped cooperating with them. That's why now the FBI is helping those local detectives retrace the three-day trip, giving also renewed hope to members of her family who were gathering there on Friday night.

Take a listen.

[14:29:44]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LILLY DENES, GRANDMOTHER OF MISSING GIRLD: If she's listening, we love you. We're here for you. And we just want you to be happy and call me.

BRIDGETT TRUHITTE, AUNT OF MISSING GIRL: I just can't stop thinking about this. And I hope -- I hope something good comes out of this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: So sad, Fred. But for now, detectives say that they are still hopeful that perhaps Melodee could be with someone who just doesn't realize that she is missing.

[14:30:07]

She is nine years old, about four foot six, 60 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.

And anyone with information of her whereabouts is urged to contact the Santa Barbara County sheriff's office or submit an anonymous tip.

WHITFIELD: All right. Very troubling.

All right. Julia Vargas Jones, thanks so much.

All right. Straight ahead. Day 26 of the shutdown and lawmakers remain at odds over how to reopen the U.S. government. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is right there in the chair. He's joining us live, next.

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[14:35:07]

WHITFIELD: It is day 26 of the U.S. government shutdown. That's nearly a month of uncertainty for federal workers who don't know when they will get their next paycheck. And small businesses, depending on the government, are also in a lurch.

And now add in people who receive food stamps. According to a new memo obtained by CNN, the Trump administration says it will not tap into billions of funds to cover benefits next month if the shutdown continues. More than 40 million Americans who receive food assistance would be affected as the shutdown rolls on, with no end in sight.

Let's discuss more now with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Leader Jeffries, great to see you.

So, Republicans say it's on Democrats to get the U.S. government back open. So, what will it take to get things moving again?

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Well, Republicans control the house, the senate and the presidency. And from the very beginning of this year, they've adopted a "my way or the highway" approach and continue to try and jam their right wing ideology down the throats of the American people, including when they passed the one big, ugly bill which had in it a $186 billion cut to nutritional assistance, the largest SNAP cut in American history. And they did that so they could reward their billionaire donors.

Our view as Democrats is that we want to sit down with anyone, any time, any place, either at the Capitol or back at the White House to reopen the government to enact a bipartisan spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people, while at the same time decisively addressing the Republican health care crisis that is crushing the American people.

WHITFIELD: When's the last time you or anyone has reached out to the speaker, Johnson, or other Republicans to say, let's sit down at the table, let's talk, whether it be on Capitol Hill or at the White House.

JEFFRIES: Well, earlier in the week, Leader Schumer and I reached out directly to the White House requesting a meeting with Donald Trump before he went back out of the country, as we approached. Now, Day 26 of the Trump Republican shutdown.

Of course, Donald Trump indicated he had no interest in sitting down with Democrats. And that, in fact, has been the case for the last 26 days while the government has been shut down, while services are not being provided to our taxpayers, and while hardworking federal employees are being furloughed or forced to work without pay, Donald Trump has had zero interest in spending any time to try to get a resolution. They made the decision to shut down the government, and now they are continuing to inflict pain on the American people.

WHITFIELD: Is there another way that, lawmakers on Capitol Hill, both sides, all sides can talk without the president's involvement? After all, citizens do expect that there should be negotiations discussions when talking about legislation, bills, remedies, any or all of these things, especially with the U.S. government not in operation, at stake?

JEFFRIES: Yeah. Part of the problem is that house Republicans have canceled votes now for five consecutive weeks. They literally have been on vacation, receiving a paycheck while forcing others to work without pay.

A starting point would be speaker Johnson actually bringing house Republicans back to congress so we can actually function as a body and work toward enacting a bipartisan resolution and a spending bill that meets the needs of the American people. Now, we have also said, as House Democrats, that we will consider anything in good faith that emerges from the Senate in a bipartisan way that reopens the government, that spends taxpayer dollars in a way that makes their life better. And that, of course, addresses the healthcare crisis, including by

extending the affordable care act tax credits so that tens of millions of people all across the country, everyday Americans don't experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles as we approach open enrollment on November 1st.

WHITFIELD: Okay. And yesterday, I spoke with a Natasha Taylor. She's the deputy director of Georgia Watch. It's a nonprofit that advocates for consumers here in Georgia and Georgia, is expected to be hit pretty hard, with health care, affordable health care premiums going up. On average, she says, a family of four might have to pay $3,000 a month for their care, but without these extensions, it could go up at least 30 percent and they could be facing $6,000 to $7,000 a month for health care coverage.

What do you say to families who are now in a position of having to choose between health care, food on the table, paying their rent or mortgage, while all this is going on?

JEFFRIES: Well, this should never be the case in the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world. And as Democrats, we've made the case that we are not going to support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the health care of the American people in an environment where the cost of living in this country is already too high.

[14:40:11]

Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs haven't gone down. They're going up. Electricity bills are through the roof, housing costs are up. Inflation is up. Grocery costs are up. And now tens of millions of people in Georgia and beyond are facing the very real possibility that they will be unable to afford a doctor when they need one.

We're talking about a situation where many people will confront increased health care costs of $1,000 to $2,000 per month. That's $12,000 to $24,000 in additional costs per year, when more than 90 percent of the people who receive Affordable Care Act tax credits make around $62,000 a year.

It's unaffordable. It's unsustainable, and it's unconscionable. That's why we are demanding that our Republican colleagues sit back down at the table so we can get this resolved for the American people.

WHITFIELD: All right. Now, let me ask you about your home city. You've now endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York. What provoked you to endorse him now?

JEFFRIES: Well, Zohran is the Democratic nominee, and his alignment as it relates to the affordability crisis and the need to decisively deal with it. Of course, alignment around Jessica Tisch as the NYPD police commissioner and the important need to ensure public safety for all communities across the city of New York.

And I was very pleased to see that our nominee, Zohran, made the decision to indicate that he would retain Jessica Tisch as the police commissioner. By all accounts, she's doing a tremendous job. And of course, there's alignment around the existential threat that Donald Trump confront -- face -- you know, will bring to the city of New York in ways that he's unleashed this extremism on the American people in such an extraordinary way from the very beginning of his presidency.

And he clearly has put a bullseye on the city of New York. That said, I will continue to take positions that are important to the people that I'm privileged to represent in Brooklyn on racial justice, on social justice, on economic justice, and of course, on foreign policy, particularly as it relates to the Middle East, which has been an issue of great interest to people, particularly over the last two years.

I will always support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and Democratic state and eternal homeland for the Jewish people. Of course, we have a ceasefire in place. That is a good thing. We have to make sure that it can hold permanently.

We need to make sure that we identify all of the remains of the hostages who have been killed and their returned home. We have to surge assistance, humanitarian support to Palestinian civilians who have been in harm's way through no fault of their own. And if theater of war for two years, we have to reconstruct Gaza.

And of course, finally, we need a robust path toward a just and lasting peace, which ultimately will involve a two-state solution a safe and secure Israel living side by side in peace and prosperity with a demilitarized Palestinian state free of Hamas, but a state that allows the Palestinian people to experience the dignity and self- determination that they deserve.

WHITFIELD: And quickly, can I also ask you about your other home city of Washington, D.C., and the demolition of the east wing? As a member of Congress for many, many years, you've obviously spent a lot of time at the White House and at the east wing as well. What are your impressions? What are you feeling as you see the demolition taking place without the involvement of preservation groups or even Congress?

JEFFRIES: Well, the American people are understandably horrified by what they've seen in terms of the demolition of large parts of the White House, so that Donald Trump can erect a ballroom to be celebrating him like a king. That's unconscionable, unacceptable. And of course, it's un-American.

And instead of focusing on reopening the government, instead of focusing on addressing the health care crisis that Republicans have visited on the American people, instead of driving down the high cost of living in an environment where the Trump tariffs have made life more expensive for everyday Americans, he's decided to destroy the White House in an unlawful way. And it is very unfortunate.

But it's par for the course in terms of what we've seen from Donald Trump and Republicans during his presidency.

WHITFIELD: All right. Democratic leader, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, appreciate your time. Thank you so much. JEFFRIES: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Still to come, the U.S. government shutdown is slowing down travelers across the country as well. We'll have a live report on the delays fliers are facing already.

[14:45:02]

And it could get even worse.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back.

We're now hearing that there is growing anxiety among Republicans in Congress over the party's lack of planning to address what will happen when Obamacare tax credits expire at the end of the year. The result could mean spiking health care costs for millions of Americans.

[14:50:00]

Several prominent Republicans warn millions of Trump voters will feel the pain if the GOP does not act.

I want to discuss what all of this means now with Cynthia Cox. She is the vice president and director of the nonpartisan health policy research organization KFF's program on the Affordable Care Act.

Great to see you. So, in your view, how many Americans will be impacted if the health care subsidies expire? What kind of increases might they expect?

CYNTHIA COX, VICE PRESIDENT, KFF: So right now, the Obamacare markets cover about 24 million people. That's twice as many people who are getting coverage before these enhanced tax credits became available.

And at the end of this year, if enhanced premium tax credits expire, we're expecting that on average, premium payments are going to more than double. That's a 114 percent increase. Now, that's not what the insurance companies are charging. Most of that is actually just because people will get less financial help, and they'll have to pay a larger share of their income next year.

WHITFIELD: I mean, this is painful. These numbers are sizable. I mean, to nearly double. And looking at how much it's going to cost, a variety of households, I mean, do you feel like there is any end in sight here because the government has been shut down for five weeks now, and you just heard perhaps my conversation with the Democratic minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, who says, you know, that these subsidies should be in the spending bill. Republicans should come to the table to negotiate. So far, they've refused to do so.

So, what would be your message to lawmakers?

COX: Well, it's a complicated situation. Of course, Democrats want to see these tax. Credits extended. They want to see them extended permanently.

For Republicans, I mean, they see these tax credits as being too expensive. They do cost $35 billion a year. But the issue is that at the same time, a lot of Republican voters are going to be affected if these enhanced tax credits expire.

In fact, most people who get their health insurance through this market live in a state that was won by President Trump in the election. They also live in congressional districts that were won by Republicans. And so, if these tax credits expire, you're going to see a lot of working class Republican voters paying more each month for their health insurance.

WHITFIELD: All right. Cynthia Cox, thanks so much.

COX: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: We'll be right back.

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[14:57:04]

WHITFIELD: The CNN original series "New Orleans: Soul of a City" explores the city's unique food culture and sports, from the sounds of live jazz to the iconic Mardi gras and the smell of warm beignets. All of it so good.

And 20 years after Katrina, the city is louder and more resilient than ever.

This week's episode takes a look at the history behind Mardi gras in the city.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RIEN FERTEL, HISTORIAN: We are a city that floods. We are a city living on the edge of precariousness every single day.

CAROLINE THOMAS, ART DIRECTOR, REX ORGANIZATION: I think for New Orleans, we found a way to kind of create this balance, using Mardi gras as a tool. No matter how difficult things are, you can still find an opportunity to find joy.

BIG CHIEF SHAKA ZULU, GOLDEN FEATHER NATION: I feel like this city has a lot to teach to the rest of the country, because this is one of the few cities where we all can coexist in peace and harmony.

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WHITFIELD: Joining us right now is Arthur Hardy, the founder of the "Mardi Gras Guide Magazine".

Thank goodness you have it. And that you did develop this and make it available for everybody. You're going to be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. I mean,

what an incredible milestone. So, Arthur, you know what provoked this? Why did you want to put this together and have it at everybody's fingertips?

ARTHUR HARDY, FOUNDER, MARDI GRAS GUIDE MAGAZINE: Well, when I was a kid, you had ten parades. You knew when where there were by the mid '70s, we had 60 parades. And like, you have a TV guide for a weeks' worth of planning for that one Mardi Gras guide. So that was the concept for five years. But now it's a success after half a century.

WHITFIELD: I mean, it is a mainstay, your magazine and Mardi Gras in the city, but help people understand, you know, where did this tradition of Mardi Gras come from? The throwing of the beads to these beautiful floats and really always making people smile, the music and showcasing so much talent?

HARDY: Well, if you went back to 1857, you would see the first thing that resembles a Mardi Gras parade today. And since then, we've had Mardi Gras constantly, with a few exceptions for little minor interruptions like yellow fever, world war, COVID. But it's grown now to where more than 60 parades, you know, it's our signature event. It's remarkably friendly, friendly and family friendly and wholesome.

And I just love it. I thought at some point, I get tired of it, but not me. I'm there parades, catching beads and doubloons each year.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's so great -- do you have a favorite place, you know, corner, any of that? You know, a favorite way in which to take it all in?

HARDY: Yeah, I like to be on Saint Charles Avenue, where most of the parades start near Napoleon Avenue, and you'll see so many wonderful things there. And, you know, there are no strangers at Mardi Gras. We don't do this as a tourist attraction.